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EBBA 32665

National Library of Scotland - Crawford
Ballad XSLT Template
THE FOUR--LEGG'D ELDER
OR,
A horrible Relation of a Dog, and an Elders Maid.
To the Tune of, The Lady's fall.

ALL Christians and Lay-Elders too
for shame amend your Lives,
Ile tell you of a Dog trick now,
which much concernes your Wives:
An Elders Maid neare Temple-Barre
(ah what a Queane was she,)
Did take an ougly Mastive Curre
where Christians use to be;
Help House of Commons, house of Peeres,
oh now or never helpe,
Th Assembly hath not sate four yeares,
yet hath brought forth a whelp.

2.
One Evening late she stept aside,
pretending to fetch Eggs,
And there she made her selfe a Bride
to one that had foure leggs:
Her Master heard a rumblement,
and wonder'd she did tarry,
Not dreaming (without his consent)
his Dog would ever marry:
Oh house of Commons, house of Peeres, etc.

3.
He went to peepe, but was affraid
and hastily did run,
To fetch a Staffe to helpe his Maid,
not knowing what was done:
He tooke his Ruling Elders Cane,
and cry'd out helpe, helpe here,
For Swash our Mastive and poore Jane,
are now fight Dog fight Beare.
Oh house of Commons, house of Peeres, etc.

4.
But when he came he was full sorry,
for he perceiv'd their strife,
That 'cording to the Directory,
they two were Dog and Wife:
Oh (then said he) thou errand queane,
why hast thou me beguil'd,
I wonderd Swash was growne so leane,
poore Dog hee's almost spoyl'd.
Oh house of Commons, house of Peeres, etc.

5.
I thought thou hadst no carnall sence
but what's in other Lasses,
And could have quench'd thy cupiscence
accotding to the Classes,

But all the Parish see it plaine,
since thou art in this pickle,
Thou art an Independant queane,
and lov'st a Conventicle.
Oh house of Commons, house of Peeres, etc.

6.
Alas now each Malignant Rogue
will all the World perswade,
That she that's Spouse unto a Dog
may be an Elders Maid,
They'l jeere us if abroad we stirre,
good Master Elder stay,
Sir, of what Classis is your Curre?
and then what can we say?
Oh house of Commons, house Peeres, etc.

7.
They'l many gracelesse Ballads sing
of a Presbyterian,
That a Lay-Elder is a thing
made up halfe Dog halfe Man;
Out, out, said he, and smote her downe,
was mankind growne so scant?
There's scarce another Dog in towne
had tooke the Covenant.
Oh house of Commons, house of Peeres, etc.

8.
Then Swash began to looke full grim,
and Jane did thus reply,
Sir, you thought nought to good for him,
you fed your Dog too high,
Tis true, he tooke me in the lurch,
and leapt into my arme,
But as I hope to goe to Church
I did your Dog no harme.
Oh house of Commons, house of Peeres, etc

9.
Then she was brought to Newgate goale
and their was naked stript,
They whipt her till the cord did faile,
as Doggs use to be whipt:
Poore City Maids shed many a teare
when she was lash'd and bang'd,
And had she bin a Cavalier,
surely she had bin hang'd.
Oh house of Commons, etc.

Her's was but fornication doomd
for which she felt the lash,
But his was Buggary presumd,
therefore they hanged Swash,
What will become of Bishops then,
or Independancy,
For now we find both Doggs and Men
stand for Presbytery.
Oh house of Commons, etc.

11.
She might have tooke a Sowgelder
with Synod-men good store,
But she would have a Lay-Elder
with two leggs and two more:
Go tell th' Assembly of Divines,
tell Adoniram Blew,
Tell Burgesse, Marshall, Case, and Vines
tell Now-and-anon-too.
Oh house of Commons, etc,

12.
Some said she was a Scottish [Girl,]
or else (at least) a Witch[;]
But she was borne in Col[chester:]
was ever such a Bitc[h!]
Take heed all Christian V[i]rgins now,
the Dog-star now prevailes,
Ladies beware your Monkeys too,
for Monkeys have long tailes.
Oh house of Commons, etc.

13.
Blesse King & Queen and send us peace
as we had seven yeares since,
For we remember no Dog-dayes,
while we injoy'd our Prince:
Blesse sweet Prince Charles, 2 Dukes. 3 Girles
Lord save His Majestie,
Grant that his Commons, Lords, & Ea[rls]
may lead such Lives as He.
Oh House of commons, house of Peere[s]
Oh now or never helpe,
Th Assembly hath not sate four yeares
yet hath brought forth a Whelp.


FINIS.

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